It will open a Bronson FastCare retail health-care site on April 1, inside the Meijer store at 5121 S. Westnedge Ave. in Portage.

According to information provided by Bronson, it is intended to provide basic, convenient and inexpensive treatment for a wide range of simply treatable ailments from insect bites and laryngitis to sore throats and pink eye.

“At Bronson, we are always looking for ways to improve access to health-care services,” John Jones Jr., senior vice president and chief operating officer of Bronson Medical Practices, said in a press release. “That means making sure we are doing all we can to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”

There was no word on whether the effort will be a prototype for other locations by Bronson. Meijer spokesman Frank Guglielmi said, howver, that there is no partnership between Bronson and the 204-store Meijer chain in regard to the locations. He said Meijer is simply leasing space at the South Westnedge Avenue store.

Guglielmi said health care providers have leased space inside Meijer stores in the past to operate clinics, but they were independent operators not associated with a health-care system.

“Bronson FastCare is a great new resource that serves everyone regardless of whether or not they have insurance or their own primary care doctor,” Jones said. “It is designed to help all people who have minor health concerns get the care they need quickly, affordably and with maximum convenience.”

Patients whose ailments exceed the scope of the location will be referred to another Bronson facility. Jones said the primary difference between Bronson FastCare and immediate care/urgent care centers in the area will be having a direct link to comprehensive care at a hospital.

“That includes medical specialists, services in the hospital and outpatient services,” he said.

Care at the location is open to the public and is to be provided by licensed nurse practitioners and physician assistants working under the guidance of emergency medicine physicians with Southwestern Michigan Emergency Services. According to Bronson, that is the same group that staffs emergency departments at Bronson hospitals in Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and Paw Paw.

Patients will be able to fill prescriptions at the Meijer Pharmacy, located on site, or at a pharmacy of their choice.